Brazil women's national soccer team coach fired
Brazil's early elimination from the World Cup has led the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) to start overhauling the women's national teams - senior and youth. The most significant change was announced on Wednesday (Aug. 30), almost a month after the first group stage exit, with the departure of Swedish coach Pia Sundhage, who led the Brazilian team at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
According to the official statement confirming her departure, the new coaching staff will be introduced "in the coming days" to commence preparations for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France, and the upcoming 2027 World Cup, for which Brazil is a candidate to host.
Performance overview
Sundhage took the helm of the women's national team in July 2019, overseeing 57 matches, resulting in 34 wins, 13 draws, and 10 defeats. The team scored 139 goals while conceding 42. The Swede's only official title with the Brazilian team was last year's Copa America in Colombia.
Her tenure began with high expectations, given Sundhage's status as a two-time Olympic champion with the United States (2008 and 2012) and her reputation as one of the sport's foremost professionals. In 2021, at the Tokyo Games in Japan, Brazil faced a major challenge under her leadership, but they were eliminated on penalties by Canada in the quarterfinals, with the Canadians eventually winning gold.
Although Brazil dominated the Copa America, winning all six matches and securing their eighth title, Sundhage herself acknowledged the need for a higher level of technical play to compete against stronger opponents.
In the World Cup, their sole bright moment was a 4-0 victory over Panama in the opening match. However, poor performances in the 2-1 defeat to France and the goalless draw with Jamaica resulted in an early exit from the group stage. This disappointing campaign played a pivotal role in Sundhage's departure, even with a year remaining on her contract.
